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By Varietal
Chardonnay (157)
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| 2007 - Cuvaison Chardonnay Estate |
| Oct 28, 2009 |
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On first look, the Cuvaison seemed to have certain lightness to it for a Chard. Often a Chardonnay will have a deeper, more golden color to it and maybe it was the sunlight in the yard, but it had a nice bright sunny color.
For me, the nose spoke of honey. Other tasting notes call for more of a crème brûlée, custard, vanilla, caramel, crème fraiche or buttered apple aromas, so there is a definite creamy, rich sweetness there. Tasting itself, the forward feel is that buttery sweeter goodness, but then the Cuvaison is surprisingly bright and crisp. It was very refreshing and not at all too heavy at all. I found that the creaminess gave way to a pleasant citrus, mostly lemon, maybe a bit of grapefruit? It most certainly had a forward citrus fruit, though other tasting notes for this Chardonnay call for crisp apple, melon, caramel, Meyer lemon custard, pineapple. Bottom line: it’s got a nice light fruit feel to it with that buttery creamy balance.
After the fruit, the finish held on, but not too to long. Some oak as expected, but not at all too rough. It was much smoother than expected and very balanced. It was all too pleasant, sitting in the crisp fall sun, drinking this bright and crisp wine with friends and talking about the sensations that were happening as we sipped. If I had planned better, a tray of fruit, cheese and crackers would have made it complete, though a nice clam bake would have done just as well too!
All and all, one of the best Chardonnays I have had in a while and I am looking forward to drinking it again. An added bonus? It’s one of our top wine picks this week and is one sale from it’s regular price. |
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| 2007 - Alfred, Domaine Chardonnay Chamisal Vineyard |
| Jul 10, 2009 |
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Classic California Chardonnay nose of toasty oak, vanilla, butterscotch, and pastry crust with some meyer lemon custard and orange zest. Big wine up front with good concentration, medium acidity, and abundant oak. Nice finish with copious amounts of citrus and a subtle leesiness
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| 2007 - Alfred, Domaine Chardonnay Goss Creek |
| May 26, 2009 |
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Really more like 3.5 stars. Green & gold with a mellow nose of soft oak and minerals. Palate is full of hazelnut & a slight hint of almonds, very full, and manages to pull off being crisp and rich at the same time. Nice!
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| 2006 - Sauzet, Domaine Etienne Puligny Montrachet Champ Gain Premier Cru |
| May 21, 2009 |
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Stunning & delicious. My first 5 star review on Winezap (I think?). Very clear with only a hint of color, there are lots of fresh squeezed lime notes on the nose that continue onto the palate. Gorgeously balanced with a hint of wood (?) to add to the complexity, this was my favorite 2006 White Burgundy tasted this day. Bravo.
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| 2007 - Cohn, B R Chardonnay |
| May 21, 2009 |
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Pale yellow straw in color. A pretty nose of soft fruits, apricots, peach, and white flowers. Not too oaky (but oaky enough), the alcohol is a bit high on the palate and the finish is too hot for my tastes. But if California Chardonnay is your thing, drink away.
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| 2006 - Sebastiani Chardonnay |
| Apr 27, 2009 |
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Rich & buttery and full of vanilla. They don't quite overdo it, and there is some nice spice here. Not right up my alley, but well down.
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| 2006 - Cono Sur Chardonnay, 20 Barrels |
| Refreshing & Livey Chardonnay! |
| Apr 27, 2009 |
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| Bright yellow with a shiny green hue. Very fresh. Lots of stone fruits,
nectarine & peach in particular, with some crisp apple. Lively
acidity supports the the gentle flavors of oak with some nuttiness on
the long finish. Very fun to drink, this tastes great now with or
without food, but would be fun to enjoy at the start of summer for the
next half-decade or so. Highly recommended. |
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| 2006 - Stonestreet Chardonnay |
| Jan 28, 2009 |
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| Nice ripe nose of papaya, guava, meyer lemon, and toasty oak.
Everything seems well integrated with some really bright acidity
towards the finish. Not overly thick or buttery. I really like this is
a light aperitif Chardonnay or with light lunch fare.
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| 2007 - Souverain, Chateau Chardonnay |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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| Medium lemon-green core with a bright, clear rim. Huge
aromatics in the glass. Lots of ripe green and yellow pear with a
tropical pineapple hint are all surrounded by plenty of toast, nutmeg
and wet slate. Toasty on the front palate with lots of new oak and
cream. A dense core of fruit reveals yellow apple, pear and bold lemon.
Rich and full bodied with great acidity and a spicy nutmeg and cream
finish.
If you have $16 and
love California Chardonnay then you simply don't need to look any
further. Tons of ripe fruit and lots of great spicy oak. Easy to drink
and sure to be a crowd pleaser in any social situation, making the
recent release perfect timing for holiday gatherings. |
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| 2005 - Rombauer Chardonnay |
| All the oak you need and not a bit more |
| Dec 22, 2008 |
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| I am a huge oak/butter chardonnay fan, and yet I love this lightly oaked chardonnay. Blew me away. |
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| 2005 - Mirassou Chardonnay |
| A summer delight |
| Nov 04, 2008 |
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| A crisp white with a good flavor. Should be able to pair with a variety of food; a salad with blue cheese and fruity salad dressing; grilled fish with mango salsa..... |
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| 2006 - Meridian Chardonnay Santa Barbara |
| Alive and Well |
| Oct 09, 2008 |
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The Meridian Chard from Santa Barbara is always one of my favorite bargain basement Chardonnay's, along with the Columbia Crest Grand Estates. In this vintage, 2006, they seem to be trying to make it less flabby and more alive, with more acidity than usual, which brightens it up and compliments the usual intensity of flavor. This year it's more apple and lychee than heavy pineapple, a nice shift to a brighter style, still balanced, yet still very inexpensive. The oak is also less heavy handed than in previous incarnations. Overall, once again, a great value.
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| 2005 - Columbia Crest Chardonnay Grand Estates |
| A great value in Chardonnay |
| Sep 09, 2008 |
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2005 Columbia Crest “Grand Estates”, Columbia Valley chardonnay.
Tasted 4/22/2008. Total acidity: 0.56 g/100ml. pH: 3.49. Alcohol: 13.8%.
Sugars: .07 g/100mL.
A delightful nose of buttery oak, pear, and malolactic aromas with some nutmeg and mineral notes. Medium bodied with good mouth-feel. Though oak dominated, it has some complexity and a moderately long finish. The wine would be an excellent match with a pork roast, grilled chicken, or firm-fleshed fish such as salmon or tuna. This is an excellent value! The Raymond Rating = 89 points. |
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| 2005 - Gallo-Sonoma Chardonnay |
| Gallo, Sonoma Reserve, Chardonnay 2005 |
| Aug 24, 2008 |
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Sonoma Reserve. This is a wonderful Chardonnay, fresh and bright, with intense flavors of pineapple and apple. Not heavy, not too creamy or too oaky, which allows the tropical fruit to shine through. When the glass was empty, and we sniffed, we could smell the wood, but it was not heavy enough to disguise the true flavors of Chardonnay. A good value.
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